S1E11 · Colonial Day

Complete story — includes the ending

To celebrate the anniversary of the Articles of Colonization, Roslin reconstitutes the Quorum of Twelve, a representative body within the Colonial government. Tom Zarek, who had called for Roslin's resignation, is nominated to fill the vacant role of Vice President. Worried that Zarek may try to assassinate her if he wins, Roslin initially drafts her friend and confidante Wallace Gray to run against Zarek. After Gray proves uncharismatic, she pushes him aside in favor of Baltar. Lee Adama and Starbuck arrest a man named Valance who has smuggled a handgun aboard Cloud Nine, the ship where the Quorum meeting is being held. They suspect that he may have ties to Zarek but find him dead in his holding cell in an apparent suicide. Baltar wins the election. Zarek warns Roslin he will be back during the presidential election in six months and claims he did not kill Valance. On Caprica, Helo and Sharon prepare to hijack a Cylon ship to escape the planet when Helo sees another woman who looks like an identical copy of Sharon. Realizing that Sharon is a humanoid Cylon, he flees.